Key players in Nigeria's agricultural sector have issued a strong call for better policy alignment and creative funding solutions to fully unlock the country's massive agribusiness potential. This urgent appeal was the central theme at the 2025 Agricultural Youth Summit held in Abuja.
A Confluence for Change
The summit, a collaborative effort by the Leventis Foundation Nigeria (LFN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), served as a major gathering point for policymakers, development partners, and young agricultural entrepreneurs. The primary goal was to develop practical strategies for transforming Nigeria's farming landscape.
In his opening address, Hope Usieta, the Executive Director of the Leventis Foundation Nigeria, explained that the event was strategically designed to fuel meaningful dialogue and produce actionable ideas. The aim is to reposition agriculture as a primary engine for youth empowerment and broad national development.
Addressing Critical Gaps
Usieta placed a sharp focus on the struggles of smallholder farmers, who are responsible for cultivating most of Nigeria's farmland. He stressed that improving access to agricultural finance and digital tools is non-negotiable for progress. Bridging the financing gap and bolstering institutional support, he argued, would directly lead to higher productivity, the growth of agribusinesses, and the creation of sustainable jobs for the youth.
"Despite the various interventions in the agricultural sector, challenges still abound," Usieta observed. "Hence, there's a critical need for policy coherence and increased support for agri-finance to advance the needed solutions."
The summit included hands-on workshops covering essential topics like business formalisation, using digital tools for agribusiness growth, and mainstreaming agricultural finance. These sessions were tailored to equip participants with immediately applicable skills and insights.
Unified Stakeholder Support
The sentiment was strongly echoed by other leaders. Representing the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olufemi Nafiu, Mr Abe Dankaro emphasised that agribusiness offers a powerful answer to Nigeria's twin problems of youth unemployment and food insecurity.
Further solidifying the foundation's commitment, the Chairman of the Leventis Foundation Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmed Manti, described the event as a vital "platform for innovation, dialogue, and policy alignment." He revealed that LFN has already trained over 31,000 young Nigerians in modern agricultural and entrepreneurship techniques. A recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abuja Enterprise Agency will also provide business development services for its graduates.
Manti concluded with a powerful message to all stakeholders: "As a nation, we must continue to invest in our youth, for they remain our greatest asset and the key to building a resilient agribusiness sector."
